The Courageous Coward

The year 2006

It’s been two years since Rajesh completed his engineering from a reputed college. Rajesh was the first person to complete a degree from their family. He had lost his father recently, with an elder sister and younger brother he had to lead the family of four including his mother.

 

Rajesh was not fluent in communication, and all of his kinds of stuff got outweighed by it. He attended about 33 interviews across the industry and domain.

 

Some took the resume and expected money for a salary of 1200.

Some took the resume and spoke with him for hours with no outcome.

Some shortlisted him and asked him to do a course in Mainframes.

Others offered him Job where he had to pay 2000 per Month for getting the experience certificate.

 

Several family members were there capable of helping him, but they offered free advice, none gave a finger to uplift him from the struggles.

 Rajesh worked for an IT hardware servicing center, for the sake of a certificate. Later he came to know, that the testimony was of no use as he gets termed as On Job Trainee.

 

With hopes diminishing Rajesh stopped trying but realizing the situation at home, he continued his attempt and thought of taking up a data entry job.

 He happened to get shortlisted in a dream company of many youngsters for the written exam.

He hardly prepared for the exam, with no hopes he went and wrote it.

He got shortlisted out of the 2000 candidates in the off-campus drive.

 

The interview was set up in a school he opened the door and entered, an experienced HR interviewed him, she smiled and acknowledged.

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself

Rajesh: I am.

The interviewer asked him to solve the puzzle initially he got stuck, and then he resolved it.

Interviewer: I can see that you are not from a computer science background, will you be able to work on hectic schedules?

Rajesh: Languages are not an issue I usually put in efforts and have been working on the same while searching for the job.

Interviewer: Smiled, and asked any more questions

Rajesh: Yes, why the company is not into other sectors apart from the software?

The interviewer was impressed, and she gave an explanation and mentioned soon they will launch it.

 

The interview was good, and he expected an offer.

A week passed, Rajesh was still searching for jobs.

It was his last hope If he fails, he had to take the option of a five-year bond software project for a salary of 5,000.

 

The family hoped for the best, and he got the offer letter on April 24th, 2006.

They asked him to report to their Mysore branch, for four months of training in Java.

Among a lot of difficulties the money, he saved by walking and skipping lunch, breakfast he brought the clothes and shoes after getting the Medical certificate started his journey to Mysore.

 

The Mysore campus was a luxurious place.

 There were people of his age.

They got provided with Room of five-star calibers but with sharing.

Everything was available within the campus for 24*7

The Retail Shop, The recreation club, The laundry, Tennis court, Swimming Pool, six canteens, and Global education center with a Library.

 

He was part of a class of 500 students Java group.

After the initial HR validations, he was asked to report to the general stream followed by the technical stream.

Rajesh being an introvert he, in general, avoids interactions.

Soon he realized he needs to push himself, to survive in the industry.

 

He attempted and succeeded in making few friends, in the general stream, concentrated on the soft skills. Unfortunately, his number was next to a girl to make things worse.

 

Rajesh: Hi, I am Rajesh from Chennai.

Girl: HI, I am Shakshi from Vadodara.

Rajesh: So, is it your first job, are you from a computer background.

Shakshi: Yes, I am from electronics, I was trying for a job for a year did VLSI course nothing worked finally got an opportunity here.

Rajesh: Ok, good to know. I have worked in several companies.

Shakshi: Oh, ok then why you quit then?

 

The session started and we focussed on the class.

 

Monika: Shakshi, aaj Friday Disco hey aaj raat campus mei, Tu aayegi naa .

Shakshi: Ha Ha challenge.

 

The entire row got filled with Mumbai and Pune. Rajesh is the only south Indian. With Hindi going in and out across the class, a little discussion happened with English.

 

Shakshi was a studious, innocent girl.

She doesn’t know how much deodorant to use, at times it is challenging to sit beside her, due to strong fragrance.

She did have a separate fragrance in the entire class.

The entire class of boys was roaming behind her secretly.

Once she lost her mobile, she got panicked she was helpless and was moving around, in search of Nokia silver.

 

Sashi the Romeo of the class, he gave it to her and said he found it at the lobby and stroked a conversation.

Sashi has indeed, had a good appearance and he was from a wealthy family, for his job was a time pass.

Shakshi thanked him and did small talk with him.

 

Rajesh for no reason felt angry, for the entire day, he didn’t speak to Shakshi, and he sat on his system and was doing the assignments.

 

Shakshi peeped at his system. Arey break lay loo Itna Kam math Karna!

Rajesh: Ya, I'll take a break after some time, thanks for saying.

Sakshi smiled and left.

 

Not sure why some guys were jealousy at Rajesh, he doesn’t even strike a conversation with Sakshi. If at all some discussion happened it was on the subject.

 

People were making fun of Rajesh that he is a go-getter, first the Job confirmation, second the CGPA and the third Shakshi, at times he fought with his friends as well.

 

Rajesh was a believer in self-learning, and he helped his friends in understanding the language.

The training was hectic; they slogged day and night and did the projects as well during the first quarter. It was a unique relationship between Shakshi and Rajesh. The only time they meet was in the class. No Phone, No Chat and No meeting outside the classroom as well.

 

Whenever Rajesh tops she jumps and celebrates with happiness, and she says, to her friend

Shakshi: I have scored well, and it was because of Rajesh guidance.

 

Others enjoy celebrating their marks, without giving a token of appreciation to him.

During slogging days she asks Rajesh to accompany her to the ladies building,

Some chit chats and career planning and cousin stuff.

Then a bye with waving hands.

 

Everything was fine in their friendship. A number of his friends asked Rajesh to introduce him to her as a friend, though he knows that they wanted a time pass friendship with her, for some reason he was guarding her but not possessive.

 

Finally, the four months got completed, Rajesh attained 8th in CGPA in a class of 500 students, photos and the farewell party got celebrated. Rajesh avoided Shakshi, but not Shakshi, probably she was too innocent, that she couldn't realize.

 

Shakshi: Arey, Photo mein kha hai tu! Dikh nahi raha.

The other boys stood behind her.

He stood far from her both in the photo and in reality.

He pointed out that, He stood here.

He got lost in the crowd.

Everyone got the posting, Shakshi got Pune and Rajesh Mangalore.

 

They departed, without saying a bye, hoping to meet again.

After a month, Sakshi pinged Rajesh.

Shakshi: Hi how are you,

I got into banking Sector, how about you?

Rajesh: I am doing well Shakshi, I am into the Energy sector.

Some chit chat happened then

Shakshi: Hey, I miss you!

Rajesh was not sure what she meant. He just typed

Rajesh: Don’t worry yaar, you will get another friend who helps you difficulty, you are a good learner.

Shakshi: Thank you Rajesh nice chatting with you.

 

Then after a few years, they chatted in facebook and communicator once in a while. Rajesh never failed in wishing her on her birthday.

 

Rajesh was not sure what was between them and didn’t care to know about it as well as he was overwhelmed with responsibilities. He did have a soft corner to Shakshi as well when he came to know she lost her parents. With the time and distance, they lost the sense, Rajesh did his duties as a brother and father to his sister and got his brother into the engineering.

 

The Year 2016

He was getting settled his mother started looking for a suitable bride, but Rajesh was strict on not getting married, he said he is not interested, in marriage and wanted to live, life for him in the remaining days.

 

What was less known, is unknowing, Rajesh fell for Shakshi. His inferiority complex and his responsibilities made him dumb, but when he wanted to confess his feelings, it was too late Shakshi got married and settled abroad.

Rajesh has taken up a job as NGO and has been working for the welfare of children, though he doesn't make much money, he is happy while spending time with those innocents.

 

Rajesh is happy for Sakshi, though they don’t talk to each other as they used to do.

Shakshi may or may not have accepted his love, But for Rajesh, it was a matter of responsibility at the expense of his unsaid love.

 

It may look stupid, that Rajesh didn't have a chat with Shakshi, probably his inferiority made him feel she deserved a better person.

 

Some may feel, Rajesh is a coward, probably he became coward, for the sake of his family.

He was unsure of the future and gave up, as he doesn't want to hurt her with false promises.

Love does give immense power and courage, but in front of responsibilities, it just gets defeated.

There is nothing called courage or cowardice in love.

It’s just a battle between a Selfless and Selfish Love.